Exeter

Exeter's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, marriage and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Exeter increased by 6.0%, from about 111,000 to 118,000.

The addition of just under 6,700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Exeter was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Exeter

Latest census data also show that the median age of Exeter remained 35 years in the decade to 2011.

This city had the second-lowest average age in the South West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 3,400 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 900.

About 20% of people in Exeter are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Exeter by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Exeter

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 38% said they had no religion. An increase from 22% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Exeter.

Across the South West, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 32%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 59% of those who disclosed their religion in Exeter said they were Christian, down from 76% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, up from 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 9.4% to 8.8% between the last two censuses.

In Exeter, 8.8% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In South West the percentage was 8.6% and across England the percentage was 7.8%.

The population without a religion in Exeter increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Exeter by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Exeter

In 2011, 3.9% of the local population said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups. An increase from 1.0% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Exeter.

Across the South West, the percentage of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 2.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 93% of people in Exeter said they were from the White ethnic groups, down from 98% in 2001. About 1.7% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group) rose from 0.3% to 0.8% between the last two censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Exeter increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Exeter by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Exeter working less than 16 hours increased from 2.6% to 4.1% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s highest proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week and the lowest proportion of people working long hours.

Bath and North East Somerset had the South West's second highest proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (3.9%), while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had the region's third highest proportion (3.6%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Exeter increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Exeter, the South West and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More students

Exeter saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of students.

In 2011, just under 1 in 18 (5.6%) people aged 16 to 74 in Exeter said they were in education, compared with 4.4% in 2001. The percentage that were employed remained close to 52%.

Across the region, only Bath and North East Somerset saw a greater rise in the proportion of students (from 3.5% to 5.1%).

The percentage of students in Exeter increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Exeter, the South West and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Exeter, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.4% to 10%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Exeter

The percentage of Exeter residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.7% to 3.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.2%, while the percentage of Exeter residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More single people in Exeter

Exeter saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44%) people aged 16 and over in Exeter said they were single, compared with 38% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 43% to 38%.

Across the region, only Plymouth (from 30% to 37%) and Bristol (from 40% to 47%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Exeter residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.8% to 2.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Exeter remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Exeter by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Exeter at a faster rate than in East Devon (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Exeter).

In Exeter, the proportion of private renting increased from 14% in 2001 to 21% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby East Devon increased from 9.8% to 14%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Exeter remained close to 17%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 66% to 60%.

Private renting in Exeter increased by 7.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Exeter, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Exeter residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.4% to 4.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. While the percentage of Exeter residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Exeter decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Exeter, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Exeter with children remained close to 25% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (68%) households had no children, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of households in Exeter with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 7.8%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 28% in 2001 to 27% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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